You may use technology for communication and for supporting memory. This technology includes handheld computers and smartphones. The portable devices are supported by software or applications, known as “apps.”

For therapy, we recommend that you follow a plan developed with your clinical professional (speech pathologist).

Key search terms will be cited for hunting the internet. Here are some things to look for:

Is an app made for Apple products (iPAD, iPHONE), Android systems, or both?

Does it rely on reading print, nonverbal symbols, or both?

Does it respond to speech input?

Does it provide spoken output?

FOR COMMUNICATIVE ALTERNATIVES
(Those that produce speech)

There are a variety of laptop and smaller devices that produce speech. These devises
usually have built-in sentences. Also, with some devices, you can create your own sentences to be produced.

Some companies are quite informative about how to pay for an expensive system, such as with Medicare or insurance.

A couple of companies produce apps for handheld communicating in everyday situations or for producing sentences created originally on a laptop device.

search: talking devices for aphasia

speech generating devices for aphasia

sentence software for aphasia

e-mail for aphasia

FOR SUPPORTING MEMORY

General-use apps assist with memory challenges. Calendar apps provide pop-up reminders of events for the current day. These mostly free apps are found in your device’s application store, but it may be helpful to obtain advice from your speech-language pathologist regarding best fit.

If you are hunting in the internet, you may find many products for “brain fitness” or “brain training.” Many of the activities are like basic clinical procedures for improving attention and memory. Again, seek advice from your speech-language pathologist or clinical neuropsychologist when considering these products.

Written by G. Albyn Davis, Ph.D., CCC-SLP on June 6th, 2013. Posted on August 28th, 2013.